Part of the Gay Chicago Guide — bars, events & things to do.
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago's gay beach — the south end by the jetty, Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Hollywood Beach is what everyone calls Kathy Osterman Beach, the Chicago Park District beach at the northern tip of Lincoln Park in Edgewater, between Hollywood and Ardmore avenues where DuSable Lake Shore Drive ends. The Park District renamed Ardmore Beach in 1993 for Kathy Osterman, the Edgewater alderman who later ran the Mayor's Office of Special Events. The gay crowd sits at the south end of the beach. WBEZ traces the scene to 1991, when one gay volleyball game near the south end pulled in friends and the crowd kept growing. The beach season runs from the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day, with lifeguards 11 am to 7 pm; the beach itself is open 6 am to 11 pm, and swimming is only allowed in season in the marked areas. The 2010 beach house has restrooms, and a beach wheelchair can be borrowed from the lifeguard office with ID. Parking is limited street parking, so take the Red Line to Bryn Mawr or the 147 or 151 bus. It is a textile beach; June through August is the window.
Have feedback on this description? Let us knowDrag brunches, circuit nights & every party worth knowing in Chicago — in your inbox every week.
No upcoming events
Try checking a later date or browse events in the app
$41
$508
$35
$35
$90
$169
$33
$275
Experiences powered by Viator
Get the full experience — check in, follow this venue, and connect with the community.
Your complete guide to LGBTQ+ Chicago — the best gay bars, annual events, neighborhoods, hotels, and things to do in the Windy City.
Robbie S.
Everything you need for Chicago's Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade — the route, the costume contest, the Northalsted bars that go all out, and where to stay that's gay.
Robbie S.
Parvati Shallow's Survivor brunch, Queen! celebrates Lucy's birthday, and G.E.M. turns five at Jackhammer — plus 92 ways to fill your weekend.
Robbie S.
A citywide guide to the best gay bars and clubs in Chicago — Northalsted's neon-lit video bars, Andersonville's laid-back locals, historic South Side spots and everything between.
Robbie S.
Laid-back patios, karaoke, and the least pretentious crowd in the city — here's where Chicago's bears, cubs, and otters actually hang out, night by night.
Robbie S.
From cruise bars in Rogers Park to the Chicago Eagle, here's every corner of Chicago's leather and kink scene — the birthplace of IML.
Robbie S.
